Elderly man killed in crash involving Sheriff's Office car

An elderly man died in a crash involving an unmarked Marion County Sheriff's Office vehicle in Silver Springs Shores on Monday.

By Austin L. MillerStaff writer

SILVER SPRINGS SHORES — An elderly man died in a crash involving an unmarked Marion County Sheriff's Office vehicle in Silver Springs Shores on Monday.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers said the unmarked Sheriff's Office vehicle with two sheriff's deputies, was heading west in the left lane on Southeast Maricamp Road.

A 1993 Dodge Spirit, driven James Barzey, was on Pine Road, traveling south.

Troopers said it's unknown if Barzey, 91, of Silver Springs Shores, was trying to cross the busy roadway of Southeast Maricamp Road or trying to turn onto Maricamp Road.

Barzey's car, however, pulled into the path of the deputy's vehicle and was struck on the driver's side.

FHP officials said that upon impact, the unmarked Sheriff's Office vehicle crashed into a concrete telephone pole, while Barzey's car twice circled the unmarked vehicle before hitting the driver's side of a 2004 Acura, driven by Carlos Fuentes, 47. Fuentes, of Silver Springs Shores, was not injured, officials said.

Barzey was extricated from his car by Marion County Fire Rescue officials and was taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The deputies were transported to Munroe Regional Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

Troopers said both deputies and Barzey were wearing seat belts. The deputies names were not released by officials.

Troopers said the unmarked sheriff's vehicle, which was on duty, was not responding to any emergency at the time of the crash.

Barzey's death is the second person over the age of 90 to have died in a traffic accident in Marion County since the beginning of the year.

Last month, 92-year-old Matthew Rossi, of Ocala, was killed when the car he was driving drove into the path of a pickup truck on State Road 200.

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